Stay & Play

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
An Awesome New Aruba Experience

by Susan Campbell

My recent stay at this sunny and cheery Dutch colonial style boutique resort in Aruba was revelatory.

I’ve written about everything Aruba for over 25 years, so I was aware of their presence, and I often dine at their fabulous signature restaurant Passions on the Beach, it’s one of the most romantic, scenic settings on the island, and the food is first rate. But historically I thought of Amsterdam Manor mainly as an economical practical base for visiting families, mostly Dutch, as all the rooms have full kitchens which helps plan a budget-friendly holiday. And their location just across the street from a superb stretch of famous Eagle Beach gives guests the best of all possible worlds. But I’d not stayed there in over a decade. When I noticed they were undertaking a massive top-to-bottom renovation-the small family-owned hotel first opened in 1989, and she was beginning to show her age- my curiosity was piqued, and I figured it was time for a revisit.

Not much had changed about the exterior structure, it was still that bright sunny welcoming yellow and the entrance still had that regal quality about it from boasting their signature coat of arms, but everything else was very different. As I walked to my room, I noted the pool area was beautifully upgraded and the Horizons Lounge bar overlooking it had been restyled and now offers a trendy new menu of cocktails and bites. I had booked an ocean front room, it turned out to be gorgeous; a spacious two-bedroom suite, (guess I should have invited a friend), with a sparkling kitchen full of modern appliances and three flat screen TVs, two beautifully renovated rain shower bathrooms, a huge wooden table and inviting living area, and accents of tropical colors provided with paintings by local artists depicting Aruban scenes. I loved it. And my Eagle Beach view off my balcony was divine, I could even see Aruba’s most photographed famous twisted trees in the sand right across the way. Nothing say you are in Aruba like they do.

The next morning, though room service is now also available at Amsterdam, and it was tempting, I decided to have my breakfast right on that beach. They had doubled the size of their Passions Beach Bar and added table seating and a wide variety of morning options. I opted for the “Big Breakfast”, and it was huge, then I stuffed myself silly then went for a heavenly swim in that impossibly aqua sea. Perfect way to start an Aruba day.

Amsterdam Manor has certainly come a long way since my last stay. They have also been working hard to be a sustainable choice as well as an economical one. They were EarthCheck certified in 2000 and obtained the Master Achievement Award. They are pet-friendly, too. Good stuff!

They started small with only 49 rooms, but now they offer six different room types among 72 totally renovated studios and suites. And though this little boutique oasis has really elevated the entire experience to cater to a more discerning type of traveler, I found that they’ve not lost their warm and welcoming small community vibe that I remembered well.

https://www.amsterdammanor.com